As part of the settlement with several consumer advocacy groups, the FDA agreed to alert consumers about the potential risks on its website and to issue a more specific rule next year for fillings that contain mercury, FDA spokeswoman Peper Long said.

Millions of Americans have the fillings, or amalgams, to patch cavities in their teeth.

"Dental amalgams contain mercury, which may have neurotoxic effects on the nervous systems of developing children and fetuses," the FDA said in a notice on its Web site.

"Pregnant women and persons who may have a health condition that makes them more sensitive to mercury exposure, including individuals with existing high levels of mercury bioburden, should not avoid seeking dental care, but should discuss options with their health practitioner," the agency said.

Actually, I’m in the process of getting mine switched to white fillings.

Well, I had a bunch of cavities a while ago--a reminder of my previously unhealthy diet--so now when I go for cleanings (3 times a year) and my dentist finds an old silver filling that is eroding, I bite the bullet--no pun intended--and go for the white ones. Believe me, it ain't cheap! But I think its worth it.

Talk to your dentist before you do anything.

Peace.
-Gerry

Sara -
June 7, 2008 4:19 PM

What's a white filling?

Tim Ryoer -
September 20, 2010 10:48 AM

I have had 2 seizures that I believe were triggered from several mercury fillings I have on my teeth. I grind my teeth at night and I am sure the mercury is grinding off my teeth and going right in to my system....I have had 2 seizures while sleeping in the past 2 years and the doctors do not know what caused them. The seizures stopped when I bought a mouth guard which stops my teeth from grinding. Mercury toxins from what I have read can cause seizures and so my hope is when I take the mercury ut of my mouth I will continue to be seizure free.

Bobby Atkins -
October 16, 2010 5:33 PM

Back in 1992 A dentist that I knew from Chesnee S.C. filled my teeth with this deadly metallic material and I did not know until the late 90s when I noticed my teeth being eroded away by this hideous stuff I started to have my teeth removed in early 2003 and have been having them removed since then and the weird thing is I was brushing them normally like your supposed to I just had 3 more yanked out on 10/15/2010 and I am going to have to get 3 more removed on 10/29/2010 in order to have upper and lower plates made that I have to come up with nearly $800 to pay for all because of a dentist's lack of judgement :(

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